Action toy



Feb. 14, 1939. H. G. FISHER 2,147,500

I ACTION TOY v v Filed June 20, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1.

ATT RNEYS I i i0 INVENTOR 16 C i6 Harman CLFiShQT, I vafi wv Feb. 14,1939. H, G s R 2,147,600

7 ACTION TOY Filed June 20, 1938 2 sheets-sheet 2 19 NVENTOR HermgnCLFisher,

ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 14, 1939 PATENT OFFICE ACTION TOY Herman G.Fisher, East Aurora, N. Y., assignor to Fisher-Price Toys, 1110., EastAurora, N. Y.

Application June 20, 1938, Serial No. 214,614

11 Claims.

This invention relates to action toys. and more particularly to theactuation of movable elements thereof in a novel manner, and to theprovision of means for procuring such novel movement.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved toyembodying a simplified mechanism for imparting movements of novelcharacter to an element thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a toy in which axle meansand movable elements thereof are so arranged and connected thatrotational axle motion is translated into reciprocative movement of themovable elements in novel manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved toy havingopposed movable elements adapted to be actuated in cyclic movements ofdifferent periods,

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the claimsand in the specification which is exemplary thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in section, of atoy incorporating features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the toy shown in Fig. 1; i

Fig. 3 is a view of a modified form of a detail of the operatingmechanism of the toy of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is'a view similar to Fig. 1 of another form of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in elevation of a modified form ofactuating mechanism of the toy of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary end view of the mecha nism shown in Fig. 5.

In practicing the invention, a toy may be provided in the formillustrated as comprising a base or frame portion I mounted upon axlesl2 and M, to which are connected traction wheels l6 and I8 respectively,forrolling support of the toy upon a floor or other surface. is mountedupon the base Ill and may be provided in any desired form to illustrateany kind of animal or fictitious figure as may be desired.-

A movable element 2| in -the form of a limb or any other appropriatemovable feature of the figure 20, is pivotally mounted upon the figure20 as by means of a pivot pin 22. A washer 23 disposed upon the pin 22.betweenthe figure 20 and the limb 2| serves as a spacer membertherebetween. The limb 2| is provided With an outwardly extending armportion 24 one end of which is adapted to beat upon a drum element 26 ofA toy figure 20 into pivotal engagement with the limb 2| as by insertionin an opening in the limb. A staple 2! mounted upon the limb in spacedrelation with respect to the pivotal connection at 25 provides a limitedlost motion arm retaining means for 5 the arm relative to the limb. Thusthe arm 24 is adapted to beat upon the drum 23 upon oscillation of thelimb 2|, but a limited freedom is provided for at the end of each stroketo preclude the possibility of jamming of the parts. It will be apparentthat the movable element 2| may take any other form desired, such as anyother limb or mo able body portion of an animal toy figure to whichreciprocating movement is to be imparted. For example, the movableelement 2| may be in the form of a head or lip, or any other movableportion of a toy animal figure.

Means for imparting reciprocative movement to the element 2| in responseto rotation of the axle i2 is provided in the form of a ombination crankand pitman arrangement of novel form. The crank portion of thecombination is provided as an integral axially offset part 23 of theaxle l2. The pitman portion of the combination is shown in Figs. 1 and 2as comprising a pair of links and 32, each of which are formed of wireor rod stock and so bent as to be provided with looped lower endportions 3| and 33 respectively which are adapted to embrace the crankportion 29 of the axle I2 in freely rotatable relation therein. Thelinks 30 and 32 are also provided at each of their upperends with loopedover portions 34 and 35 respectively, the loop 34 of the link member 3!]being closed at its lower end portion as at 35. A pin 38 is mounted uponthe limb 2| and extends therefrom into the space between the limb 2| andthe figure 20 for cooperation with the looped end 34 of the link 30 toassist in actuation of the limb as will be fully explained hereinafter.The pin 38 (Fig. 1) m horizontally spaced from the location of the pivotpin 22 of the limb.

Means for operatively connecting the looped end 36 of the link 32 may beprovided in the form of a second pin similar to the pin 38' and spacedhorizontallyin the opposite direction from the pivot pin 22; or, in thealternative, the arm 24 may be so proportioned that the lnturned portion25 thereof is disposed at the proper location relatiye to the pivot pin22 and the pin 38 so as to provide also a suitable mounting for thelooped end 36 as shown in Fig. l. The loops 34 and 36 are of elongateform so as to permit alternate relative movements of the coacting pinelements in different directions relative to movement '-,-olq

the crank portion 29. A tension spring 40 is connected at one of itsends to the pin 38 and at the other of its ends directly to the figureas by means of a staple 42, being normally slightly stretched and undertension so as to constantly and resiliently urge the limb '2| towardcounterclockwise rotational movement, as viewed in Fig. 1. Such motionof the limb 2| is resisted however by coaction at alternate times of thefinger with the upper end of the loop 36 of the link 32 and of the lowerclosed end portion 35 of the link and the pin 38; depending upon therelative vertical positions of the links 30 and 32 as determined by thedisposition of the crank portion 29.

For example, the parts are so proportioned and arranged that when thecrank 29 is in the solid line position shown in Fig. 1, the link 32maintains the arm 24 as shown in its lower drum beating position againstthe action of the spring 40. Rotation of the axle |2 in a clockwisedirection as viewed in Fig. 1 toward the crank position indicated bynumeral 50 causes both of the links 30 and 32 to shift upwardly relativeto the figure and thus relieves the previous restraint of the link 32upon the limb 2| to permit the limb 2| to be raised at its outerextending end relative to the drum 28 under the influence oi the actionof the spring 40. Further movement of the crank 29 toward its uppermostposition indicated by the numeral 5|, however, causes the lower closedend portion 35 of the link 30' to come into abutting contact with thepin 33, and by reason thereof forces the limb 2| to rotate in aclockwise direction about its pivot pin 22 to return the outer end ofthe arm 24 to drum beating position against the action of the spring 40.Further movement of the crank portion 29 in a clockwise direction towardthe position indicated by numeral 52 removes the restraint of the closedend portion 35 upon the pin 39 and allows the limb 2| to move again in acounter clockwise direction under the action of the spring 40. Furthermovement of the crank portion 29 in clockwise direction toward itslowermost solid line position shown causes the upper closed end portionof the loop 36 of the link 32 to pull downwardly upon the finger 25 toreturn the limb 2| to drum beating position, or the starting point ofthe hereinabove description of operation.

Thus, actuating means have been provided in the form of a spring and apair of simple bent wires whereby a single rotation of the crank 29imparts two complete cycles of oscillative movement to the limb 2|. Forthe purpose of improving the outer appearance of the toy, spring 40 maybe substantially concealed behind the limb 2| as by partially wrappingit about the washer 23, as shown in Fig. 1. It will be understood thatin lieu of the spring 40 any other type of limb rotating means may beemployed. For example, any other desired form of spring may be arrangedin suitably connected relation to the limb 2| for constantly andresiliently urging the limb 2| in a counterclockwise direction ofrotation as viewed in Fig. 1; or other means such as rubber bands, maybe employed for the same purpose. Also, it will be understood that thelimb 2| may be so balanced with respect to the pivot pin 22 that itscenter of gravity is offset to the left of the pivot pin as viewed inFig. 1, with the result that the limb will normally tend to rotate in acounterclockwise direction away from its drum beating position under theinfluence of the forces of gravity.

A second movable limb member is pivotally mounted upon an opposite sideof the figure 20 as by means of a pin 62 for oscillatory movementthereabout in response to reciprocatory motion of a third link memberwhich is pivotally connected at its lower end to a crank portion 61 ofthe axle I2 and at its upper end to the limb 60 at a location having ahorizontally offset component with respect to its point of pivotalconnection with pin 62. Thus, the limb 60 will be adapted to be movedthrough one complete cycle of oscillation about the pivot pin 62 inresponse to each movement of the axle l2 in one of its complete cyclesof rotation. The limb 60 is shown as being provided with a second arm 68for beating upon the drum 26 and; thus the arm 68 is adapted to bereciprocated with only half of the rapidity of the drum beating actionof the first mentioned arm 24 upon rotation of the axle i2 as when thetoy is rolled across a floor or other surface.

As an additional feature, the limb 60 may be arranged, if desired, tooscillate with a further reduced frequency as compared to that of thelimb 2|, in response to rotation of the axle l2 by providing the loopedlower end 10 of the link 65 in elongate closed end form (Fig. 1) and soproportioning and arranging the parts that when the crank 61 movestoward its lowermost position the limb 60 is rotated toward a verticallydisposed position with sufilcient rate of motion to carry it over andbeyond a dead center position with relation to the link 65 and pin 62.Thus the arm 60 tends to rotate further rearwardly and away from thedrum 26 under the forces of gravity toward the position illustrated inFig. 1 wherein a stop member 12 extending from the figure 20 acts toprevent further counterclockwise rotation of the limb 60. Immediatelysubsequent and further clockwise rotation of the crank 61 is ineffectivewith respect to the limb 60 because of the elongate shape of the loop 10until such time as the crank 61 returns again toward its lowermostposition at which time it presses downwardly against the lower closedend portion of the loop 10 and giving the limb 60 a clockwise movementtoward its vertical position. Momentum forces then cause it to continueto swing further in clockwise direction and beyond dead center positionwith respect to the pivot pin 62. As the crank 61 continues to move inclockwise direction and upwardly, the limb 60 is permitted to movedownwardly under the influence of gravity forces until the drum beaterportion of the arm 68 comes into contact with the drum 26 of the toy.

Thus means have been provided for procuring oscillatory movement of amovable element of the toy at a reduced rate of oscillation in responseto rotation of an axle element thereof by the use of a simple bent wirelink member in an improved and simplified manner. Also, it will beapparent that by reason of the combination of the link mechanisms ofFig. 1 that a multiple variance of rate of oscillation between twoopposed movable members of the toy are obtained in response to simplerotation of a single axle element of the toy.

Fig. 3 illustrates a modified form of actuating means for the limb 2|wherein a single bent wire link 89 is provided in lieu of the pair oflinks 30 and 32 of the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In thislatter form of construction the link 30 is provided with a looped end 82for journalled connection with the crank portion 29 of the axle l2,

and at its upper end isbent into the form of a closed top loopsection'84, an intermediate U- shaped section 88 and a terminal closed loopsection 88. The lower end portion of the looped section 88 is closed bybending the extreme end portion of the wire inwardly, as at 89, againstthe U- shaped section 86. The loop portions 84 and 88 01' the link aresubstantially in the same relative arrangement as are the loops 34 and36 of the construction shown in Fig. 1, and are adapted to engage andco-act with the pin 88 and the finger in substantially the same mannerto procure multiple oscillative movements of limb 2| in response torotation of the axle |2 through a single cycle of rotation. As in thecase of the construction of Fig. 1 means for normally and resilientlyurging the limb 2| ina counterclockwise direction of movement about itspivot pin 22 is provided, and as shown herein is in the form of a spring48.

The solid line position (Fig. 3) 01' the link 88 illustrates theposition of the parts when the crank portion 29 is in its lowermostposition, the arm 24 being motivated downwardly to its drum beatingposition at this stage of operation. Upon rotation of the axle |2 toeither of the crank positions 98 or 9| it will be seen that restraintupon the limb 2| is to some extent removed, thus permitting the actionof the spring 48 to move the limb 2| in a counterclockwise direction ofrotation toward the dotted line'position oi' the arm 24. Continuedrotation of the axle l2 will cause the crank portion 29 to be moved toits uppermost position which in turn will move the link member 80 to thebroken line positionshown with the result that the lower end closure 89of the loop 88 will press against the pin 38 and force the limb 2| torotate in a clockwise direction, thus returning the arm 24 to itslowered or drum beating position. Thus, for each single complete cycleof rotation of the axle |2 the arm 24 will be moved through two completecycles of oscillative movement about the pivot pin 22 as an axis.

Another form of the actuating mechanism for imparting multiple rate ofoscillation to the limb 2| in response to rotation of crank 29 isillustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 wherein a link 98 which is in the form oi abeam pivotally mounted upon the figure 28 intermedially of its length asby means of a pivot pin 9| engaging a looped portion thereof. The lowerend of the link 98 is provided with an elongate loop portion 92 forengagement with the crank portion 29 of the axle l2 in such manner as toavoid interference therebetween with respect to vertically relativemovements but to provide for horizontal oscillative movements of thelooped portion 92 about the pivot pin 9| as a center in response torotation of the crank portion 29 about its axial center. Thus, the upperend portion of the link 98 is simultaneously given oppositely directedoscillative movements. The upper end portion of the link 98 is arrangedi'or operative engagement with the limb 2| through means of a pair ofopposed operative connections which are diametrically opposed withrespect to the axis of the pivot pin 22 and which are adapted to bealternatively brought into action to procure counterclockwise rotationof the limb 2| at each end of the oscillative stroke of theupper end ofthe link 98. As shown herein, this operative connection means may be inthe form of a simple U-shaped wire or staple 93 having upper and lowerlegportions 94 and 95 respectively engaging the limb 2|. ahdextendinglaterally therefrom. The outer intermediate or leg connecting portion ofthe staple 98 serves as a guide to keep the upper end of the link 98 inoperative position relative to the legs 94 and 95.

It will be seen that upon horizontal oscillation of the upper end of thelink 98, as in response to rotation of the crank 29, the upper end 01'the link 98 will bear alternately against the opposed leg portions ofthe staple at opposite sides of the pivot 22 in each instance to urgethe limb 2| to move in a counterclockwise direction of rotation, asviewed in Fig. 5, and away from drum beating position. Intermedially ofeach bearing action of the link 98 against the legs 94 and 95, the limb2| will be permitted to rotate to a limited extent in a clockwisedirection and to return to its drum beating position under the influenceof the action of a spring 98, one end of which is fixedly mounted uponthe figure 28 as at 91. It will be noted that the provision of thespring 96 is similar to that of the spring 48 in the forms ofconstruction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, except that the spring 96procures clockwise rotation of the limb, and the principles employed arethe same. Likewise, it is understood that other forms of resilient forcemeans may be employed, or that in lieu thereof the forces of gravity maybe availed of for the purpose, by arranging a suitable disposition ofthe center of gravity oi. the limb 2| relative to the pivot pin 22. 4

As illustrated in Fig. 6, the link 98 may bein the form of a wire whichis intermediately looped about the pivot pin 9| in the form of a coil.Thus. a simple yet effective method of constructing the link 98 isprovided, and at the same time provision is made for ample resiliencywithin the limb actuating mechanism whereby the possibility of themechanism becoming jammed or locked at either end of its reciprocativestroke is precluded.

It will be understood also that the actuating means of Fig. 5 may beused in combination with the limb actuating means of either Fig. l orFig. 3. In such case the link mechanism of Fig. 5 will operate to movethe limb 2| in counterclockwise rotation intermedially of clockwiserotational movements which are imparted to the limb by the linkmechanism of Fig. 1 (or Fig. 3, as the case maybe.) Thus, the need ofspringmeans for moving the limb 2| in one direction of its rotativemovement is dispensed with. It will be noted that the mechanism of Fig.5 operates to lift the arm of the toy away from the drum beatingposition during movements of the crank 29 through its upper right handand lower left hand quadrants of circular movement; and that the mechanisms of Figure l and Figure 3 operate to lower the arm, '24 to drumbeating position during movements of the crank 29 through its upper lefthand and lower right hand quadrants of circular movement about its axisof rotation. Thus the mechanisms of Figul (or Fig. 3) and Fig. 5function alternately to procure'two complete cycles of oscillativemovement of the drum beating arm 24 in response to movement of the axle|2 through only one cycle of its rotational movement.

It will be apparent that the actuating mechanism of Figure 5may bearranged to operate in a manner which is the reverse of that illustratedin the figure by altering the arrangement of the staple 93 relative tothe limb 2| so as to dispose the staple transversely of the positionillustrated and with the upper leg portion 94 thereof located totheright of the pivot pin 22 and the lower leg portion 95 disposed tothe left thereof. In such case the horizontal components of theoscillative movements of the upper end oithe leg 98 will produceclockwise rotational movements of the limb 2| instead ofcounterclockwise movements as in the form of construction illustrated.In such case means for providing intermedial counterclockwise movementsof the limb may be provided as in the form of the spring 40-of Figure 1,or in any of the other previously described manners.

Fig. 4 illustrates another mode of obtaining cyclic variance betweenoscillative motions of the limbs 2| and 60 by actuating said arms fromcrank portions'of different axles which are rotated at different speeds.As illustrated herein, the wheels ll of the toy may be formed ofdiameters difiering from the diameters of the wheel I6 whereby the axlesI2 and I4 rotate at different speeds upon rolling movement of the toyacross a floor or other supporting surface. The limb 60 in this case ismotivated about its pivotal axis pin 02 by means of a link connectionwith a crank portion I00 on the axle I4. As shown, the link connectingmember is in the form of a wire or rod I02 which is bent L-shaped toenhance the outer appearance of the toy, one arm portion of whichextends horizontally beneath the frame of the toy, the other arm portionof which extends substantially vertically and in alignment with the toyfigure 20. One end of the link I02 is provided with a loop portion I04for engagement with the crank portion I00 of the axle I4. The other endof the link I02 is provided with a turned finger portion I 06 which isinserted in a suitable opening in the limb 60 for pivotable connectiontherewith at a location having at all times during movement of the limb60 an offset component with relation to the dead center line extendingthrough the crank portion I 00 and the pivot pin 62. Thus rotation ofthe crank portion I00 will procure oscillative drum beating movement ofthe arm 60 about the pivot pin 62. As shown, the loop I04 may be ofelongate form so that a lost motion type of connection is providedwhereby the crank I00 will impart Jerking movements to the limb 60.

To provide such jerking movements at each end of the oscillative strokesof the limb 60, provision is made for permitting the limb 60 to carryover its vertical dead center position relative to the pivot pin 02under the impetus gained during rearward movement of the limb wherebythe limb 60 is enabled to carry over and recline under the forces ofgravity in a retracted position as shown in Fig. 4. The upper endportion of the link I02 may be so shaped as to conform to a washer I03mounted upon the pivot pin 02 between the limb 60 and a figure 20 asshown in Fig. 4, so as to provide a stop for limiting rearward anddownward movement of the limb 00 such as to the position shown. Thus,for each cycle of rotation of the crank I00 the limb 60 is moved throughone complete cycle of oscillation but with a jerking movement at eachend of its oscillative stroke.

The wheels I0, being larger in diameter than the wheels I6, impartrotation to the axle I4 at a rate differing from that of the rotation ofaxle I2, and the difference in these rates of rotation may be varied toprovide any desired relative frequency of movements between the limb 00and the limb 2i intermediate of the integral multiple frequenciesobtainable by the device when employing wheels of equal diameters.Consequently any desired relative frequency of movement of the opposeddrum beating elements of the toy may be obtained through the use of aminimumnumber of simple and easily made parts.

If desired, the elements actuating the limb 00 of the construction shownin Fig. 1 may be so proportioned and arranged that the necessarymomentum forces for carrying the limb 00 over and beyond its gravitydead center position in either direction of its movement about the pin62 will be developed only whenever the rate of rolling the toy across asupporting surface exceeds a predetermined rate. In such case therolling of the toy at a reduced rate of motion will result onlyin--alternative lifting and lowering of the arm 60 away from and towarddrum beating position at a rate of oscillation equai to the rate ofrotation of the axle I4, the limb being lifted in response to pressureof the crank I00 on the inner closed end of the loop I04 as the crankmoves from its most remote left hand position toward its right handposition as viewed in ,Fig. 4 and returning to its lowered drum beatingposition in response to the forces of gravity thereon during returnmovement 'of the crank I00 from its right hand to its left handposition. Rolling of the toy in excess of such predetermined rate,however, brings into effective action the forces of momentum hereinabovedescribed, and the arm 60 thereupon moves at a rate of oscillation equalto one half of the rate of rotation of the axle I4. Thus, in addition tothe relative frequency variables previously described and provided for,a still further change in operation is provided for through the optionalemployment of momentum forces acting upon a movable element of the toy,which may be brought into play at will by the user of the toy by merelyvarying the rate of travel of the toy.

A modified form of momentum actuated movable element is shown in Fig. 1as comprising a movable element, which may be in the form of an arm I20pivotally mounted upon a toy figure I22, as by means of a pivot pin I24,and operatively connected for oscillative movement thereabout to a crankportion I26 of axle I4 by means of a push-pull link I28. The link I20may be in the form of a simple bent wire, having a lower looped endsection for rotative engagement with the crank I26 and an upper inturnedfinger portion I30 for pivotal connection with the arm I20 as by beinginserted in a suitable opening therein. The point of pivotal connectionI30 between the link I20 and the arm I20 is at a location having anoffset component with respect to the dead center line extending betweenthe crank I20 and the pivot pin I24, whereby rotation of the crankportion I20 produces oscillation of the arm I20. A freely swingablemember which may be in the form of a baton I32 is pivotally mountedadjacent an outer end portion of the arm I20 and in parallel offsetrelation thereto as by means of a suitable pin or hanger I34 in suchmanner that the baton I32 is free to rotate about the hanger I34 as acenter without interference with the arm I20. One end of the baton I32is weighted as at I36 in such manneras to make the opposite ends of thebaton slightly unequal in weight. Operation of the toy, however, as byrolling it across a supporting surface, produces oscillative movement ofthe arm I20 as hereinabove explained, with the result that the hangerpointI34 moves in a vertical plane and alternately back and forth in anare shaped path relative to the toy figure I22 in such manner as toproduce unbalanced inertia forces acting upon the baton I32 tending toprovide rotation of the baton I32 about the hanger point I34. The rateand regularity of this rotation is subject to great variation because ofthe multiplicty of force applications upon the baton, with the resultthat the baton will appear to be twirled by the figure I22 in veryeffective bandmaster style. The rotation of the baton may in someinstances be regular and at a uniform rate provided the toy is pulleduniformly and at the proper rate of speed. Variations in the rate of therolling of the toy however will change the external force system actingupon the baton withthe result that the baton will appear tobeyvigorously flourished.

A toy has thus been provided which comprises in combination amultiplicity of movable members actuated in novel manner. The toy isparticularly applicable, for example, in connection with the simulationof a bandmaster and drum; mer combination; and for this purpose producesvery effective results, yet uses only a relatively small number ofinexpensively made actuating parts. It will be apparent that whenemployed in connection with a drum beating device the invention iscapable of providing a large variety of realistic sounding drum beatingeffects, but that they may also be applied to the actuation of any otherdesired type or form of toy device with equal facility.

Although only a limited number of forms of the invention have been shownand described in detail, it will beapparent to those skilled in the artthat the invention is not so limited but that various changes may bemade therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or fromthe scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an action toy, an animal simulating figure having a pair ofopposed movable limb simulating elements pivotally mounted thereon andadapted for oscillation about their respective points of pivotalmounting in substantially parallel planes for simulating drum beatingaction, and means operatively associated with said movable members forimparting oscillative movements to said movable members at differentfrequencies in response to rolling movement of said toy across asupporting surface.

2. In an action toy, an animal simulating figure mounted upon a tractionwheel for rolling contact with a supporting surface and having aplurality of limb simulating movable elements pivotally mounted thereonfor independent oscillative movement about their respective points ofpivotal mounting, and means operatively associated with said tractionwheel and each of said movable members for procuring oscillativemovements of the latter at different frequencies in response to rollingmovement of the toy across a supporting surface.

3. In an action toy, a figure element mounted upon opposed tractionwheels for rolling contact with a supporting surface and having aplurality of limb simulating elements pivotally mounted thereon andadapted for oscillation about their respective points of pivotalmounting in substantially parallel planes for simulating drum beatingaction, means operatively connecting one of said opposed wheels with oneof said opposed limb elements and means operatively connecting anotherof said wheels with the other of said limb elements for procuringindependent oscillative movements of said limb elements, said wheelsbeing of different diameters so as to provide oscillative movement ofsaid limb members at different frequencies.

4. In an action toy, a frame, a shaft rotatably carried by said frameand being provided with an axially ofiset crank portion, a movableelement pivotally mounted upon said frame for oscillative movement aboutthe point of said pivotal mounting, and a pair of link membersextending'between and connected at their opposite ends to said crankportion and said movable member, means for connecting said links to saidmovable member comprising a pair of pins extending laterally from saidmovable member and disposed at opposite locations with respect to saidpoint of pivotal mounting for cooperation with looped end portions ofsaid links respectively, said looped end portions of said links being ofaxially elongate form to provide alternate lost motion connectingeffects with respect to the opposed link a pin connections, wherebyrotation of said shaft causes said movable element to oscillate throughtwo complete cycles of oscillation during one cycle of rotation of saidshaft. 7

5. In an action toy. a frame, a traction wheel adaptd to be rotated uponmovement of said toy across a supporting surface, a crank operable inresponse to rotation of said wheel, a movable element pivotally mountedupon said frame and connected to said crank for oscillative movementabout the point of said pivotal connection by means of a link extendingtherebetween, said element being movable by motion of said crank andsaid link toward a gravity dead center position with respect to saidpoint of pivotal connection and swingable therebeyond under momentumforces, said crank and said link mechanism being adapted to subsequentlymove said element in a return direction toward said gravity dead centerposition whereby reversely directed momentum forces are enable to causesaid element to swing therebeyond and to return to its initial startingposition at the expiration of two cycles of rotative operation of saidcrank.

6. In an action toy, a crank carried by a support, a movable elementpivotally mounted upon said support in offset relation with respect tosaid crank, means associated with said movable element for resilientlymaintaining it in a normal position, and means acting upon said movableelement and operatively associated with said crank for imparting to saidmovable element multiple time spaced movements of said movable elementabout said point of pivotal mounting against the action of saidresilient means during a single rotative cycle of said crank, saidmovable element being allowed to return to normal position under theinfluence of said resilient means between element actuating movements ofsaid crank associated means.

7. In an action toy, element, means associated with said limb simulatingelement for causing oscillation of said movable element, and a secondmovable member mounted for free rotation upon an extending end portionof said first mentioned movable member and in a plane substantiallyparallel to the plane of oscillation thereof, the center of gravity ofsaid second mentioned movable element being offset with respect to thepoint of pivotal mounting thereof, whereby oscillative movement of saidfirst mentioned movable member imparts periodic unbalanced momentumforces to opposite portions of said second mentioned movable member toprocure rotation thereof about its point of pivotal mounting.

8. In an action toy, a frame, a shaft rotatably carried by said frameand being provided in an axially offset crank portion, a movable elementpivotally mounted upon said frame for oscillative movement about thepoint of pivotal mounta movable limb simulating ing, means operativelyassociated with said movable member and resiliently urging said movablemember toward one direction of its movement, and a link system extendingbetween and operatively connected at its opposite ends to said crankportion and said movable member, the operative connection of said linksystem and said movable member being in the form of a pair of oppositeLvdisposed lost motion connections located at points spaced at oppositesides of said point of pivotal mounting and having oflset componentswith respect to the dead center line betweg said crank portion and saidpoint of pivotal mo ting, whereby the lost motion connection means atone side of said point of pivot mounting operates to move said movableelement against the action of said resilient operating means during oneoperation of a cyclic movement of said crank portion and the other ofsaid lost motion connection means operates to move said movable memberagainst the action of said resilient means during another portion of acyclic movement of said crank portion, said resilient means being freeto return said movable member to its original normal position betweensaid actuating movements of said link system.

9. In an action toy, a frame, a shaft rotatably carried by said frameand being provided with an axially offset crank portion, a movableelement pivotally mounted upon said frame for oscillative movement aboutthe point of said pivotal mounting, means operatively associated withsaid movable member and resiliently urging said movable member towardone direction of its movement, and a link system extending between andoperatively connected at its opposite ends to said crank portion andsaid movable member, the operative connection of said link system andsaid movable member being in the form of a pair of oppositely disposedlost motion connections located at points spaced at opposite sides ofsaid point of pivotal mounting and havoperating means during one portionof a cyclic movement of said crank portion.

10. In an action toy, a frame, a shaft rotatably carried by said frameand being provided with an axially offset crank portion, a movableelement pivotally mounted upon said frame for oscillative movement aboutthe point of said pivotal mounting, and a pair of link members extendingbetween and connected at their opposite ends to said crank portion andsaid movable member, means for connecting said links to said movablemember comprising a pair of pins extending laterally from said movablemember and disposed at opposite locations with respect to said point ofpivotal mounting for cooperation with looped end portions of said linksrespectively, said looped end portions of said links being of axiallyelongate form to provide alternate lost motion connecting effects withrespect to the opposed link and pin connections, whereby rotation ofsaid shaft causes said movable element to oscillate through two completecycles of oscillation during one cycle of rotation of said shaft.

11. In an action toy, an animal simulating figure having opposed movablelimb simulating elements pivotally mounted thereon and adapted foroscillation about their respective points of pivotal mounting insubstantially parallel planes for simulating drum beating action, andmeans operatively associated with said movable members for impartingoscillative movements to said movable members at variable frequencyrelationships in response to rolling movement of said toy across asupporting surface.

HERMAN G. FISHER.

